Atherton, CA truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Atherton: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes in Atherton and San Mateo County, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets. Patterns use San Mateo County numbers.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
7.5 deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes vs 2.7 for all trucks.
Deadliest roads
How San Mateo County compares with California
San Mateo County against California and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where San Mateo County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | San Mateo County | California | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 15.7 | 33.2 | 49.7 | 53% below the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 2.7 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 25% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.47 | 0.44 | 0.49 | same |
| Garbage-truck share | 3.1% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 1.9× the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 0.0% | 0.9% | 6.2% | 100% below the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 28.0% | 23.5% | 23.7% | 1.2× the state |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 6.6% | 6.5% | 13.8% | same |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 39.0% | 40.2% | 41.9% | same |
| After dark | 22.3% | 29.1% | 24.8% | 23% below the state |
San Mateo County has lower values than California for crashes per 100k residents / yr, deaths per 100 crashes and on snow, slush or ice. It stands out for higher garbage-truck share and morning rush (6–10 am).
What stands out in San Mateo County: 1 in 32 garbage-truck share of crashes is 3.1%, against 1.6% for California.
Overview
Since 2015, 1,319 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in San Mateo County. They injured 630 people and killed 36.
That averages about one truck crash every 3 days in fully reported years.
With 15 truck crashes reported in Atherton since 2015, this page uses San Mateo County numbers for its patterns and comparisons.
When crashes happen
The worst month is June with 10.8% of truck crashes; the quietest is May at 6.7%.
The five winter months (November to March) hold 39.0% of truck crashes, against 40.2% across California.
The busiest hour is 8–9 am, with 8.4% of truck crashes.
0.0% of truck crashes here happened on snow, slush or ice, against 0.9% across California.
Where crashes happen
US-101 leads within 10 miles of Atherton with 8 fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015. After it: SR-84 (3), Black Mountain Rd (1) and Broadway St (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
40 crashes involved a garbage or refuse truck, a 3.0% share (California: 1.6%).
Garbage-truck crashes peak in September (18% of them).
Deaths per 100 garbage-truck crashes: 7.5, vs 2.7 for all truck crashes.
Route planning tips for Atherton fleets
- Build extra time into June routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Look at alternatives to US-101 at busy times: it leads this area in fatal truck crashes.
- For residential and commercial waste routes, look again at September schedules: garbage-truck crashes peak then.
- 28.0% of truck crashes happen between 6 and 10 am, above California; consider earlier or later starts where possible.
- Use the free Route Planner to score your route and spot low bridges before drivers head out.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in San Mateo County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (within 10 miles) |
|---|---|
| US-101 | 8 |
| SR-84 | 3 |
| Black Mountain Rd | 1 |
| Broadway St | 1 |
| Canada Rd | 1 |
| Crestview Dr | 1 |
| Grant Rd | 1 |
| I-280 | 1 |
| Pulgas Av | 1 |
| SR-82 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (San Mateo County) |
|---|---|
| Us-101 N/B | 15 |
| Us-101 S/B | 9 |
| Rt92/.3M E Rt35 | 4 |
| Rt92/3.6M E Foster City Bl | 4 |
| Sr-92 E/B | 4 |
| Woodside Rd/Broadway | 3 |
| SR-1 | 3 |
| Rt92/100Ft W Pilarcitos Creek Rd | 3 |
Atherton at a glance
| Population | 7,022 |
| Land area | 5.0 sq mi |
| Density | 1,400 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP 94027) | $250,001 |
| Median home value (ZIP 94027) | $2,000,001 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in San Mateo County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | — | — | 2.8 |
| 2000s | 77 | — | 2.2 |
| 2010s | 115 | +49% | 2.2 |
| 2020s | 102 | -11% | 2.2 |
From the 2000s to the 2020s, yearly reported truck crashes went from 77 to 102. Some of the change may reflect how crashes were reported. NHTSA counts 3.8 fatal large-truck crashes a year in 2016–19 and 2.2 a year in 2020–24.
Nearby places
Questions fleets ask about Atherton
How many truck crashes happen in Atherton?
Since 2015, 1,319 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in San Mateo County (630 injured, 36 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Atherton?
Since 2015, US-101 has had the most fatal large-truck crashes within 10 miles of Atherton: 8.
When do most truck crashes happen in Atherton?
Truck crashes in San Mateo County peak in June, with 10.8% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Atherton?
40 crashes involving garbage or refuse trucks have been reported in San Mateo County since 2015, 3.0% of all truck crashes.
How does Atherton compare with California for truck crashes?
San Mateo County records 15.7 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 33.2 across California.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Atherton?
Use the free Route Planner: enter your stops to get a risk score, safer alternatives and the low bridges on your route.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.